Otherwise Known as the New River Gorge Bridge; Fayetteville,
WV.The New River Gorge Bridge carries four lanes of US 19 safely over
the New River, 876 feet below.

Known best for the annual 'Bridge Day,' held every
October to celebrate this engineering feat's birthday, the New River Gorge
Bridge is one of West Virginia's best-known road features. The bridge
completed in 1977 also has served as an economic stimulus for the New River
Area, as various adventure and outdoor oriented business have flourished
because of the improved accessibility to the region's true natural wonder,
the New River. Built as part of Appalachian Regional Corridor 'L,'
the New River Bridge spans 3,030 feet in length, is the second highest
bridge in the US, at 876 ft., and the arch length of 1700 ft. makes it
the longest steel single arch span in the world. (Rich
Koors). Corridor 'L' is simply US 19 from the West Virginia Turnpike
Exit 48 to Interstate 79 (Exit 57). It serves as a shortcut for many
travelers from Western Pennsylvania and New York to the South and vice
versa. Personally, I cross this bridge and travel this route eight
to ten times a year between North Carolina and Pittsburgh.

A view of the arch structure from the New River National River Welcome
Center

The nearly 25 year old bridge replaced a turn of
the century structure that sits less than 20 feet over the river.
It also eliminated a 45 minute down the ridge, cross river, and back up
the ridge venture that motorists wishing to cross the New River at this
location had to take. US 19 moved from an alignment to the bridge's
south, over modern day WV
41, onto Corridor L and the new bridge which is part of the Pennsylvania
to Florida highway's current alignment. Also, US 21 was decommissioned
in West Virginia the same year the new structure was finished.

Above: A view of the original New River Crossing.
The bridge was closed to traffic in the 1980s was refurbished ad now is
open to travel.Below: A look at the twisty climb of County Route 82 which many
motorists took before the new bridge's completion. CR actually crosses
underneath the new bridge on the Fayetteville side.

"Bridge Day" is a celebration of the bridge and
also of the recreational opportunities the New River has to offer.
The event, first held in 1980, features bridge jumping, rappelling, a carnival
atmosphere, and more. The festival is West Virginia's largest one-day
event. For More Information visit the New
River Convention and Visitor's Bureau's Bridge Day Site. The
festival is held the third Saturday of every October. Barb
and John Bee were kind enough to share scans of a certificate they
received for participating in the Bridge Day festivities in 1989.

The back of the certificate gives details on the
day's events, facts about the bridge, and history of the area.